| Show president Ex-president voids Cons Constitution p x Jack Foriska Horizon Associate Editor In his final act as president president president dent Cameron Cooper last years president made an unprecedented unprecedented unprecedented dented move by declaring the student ratified constitution and unconstitutional laws by-laws al al-a al a move which is giving the new student government a baptism by fire and an annoying annoying annoying an an- legal headache In a memo posted in the student government offices and addressed to the student association senate and ex ex- ex- ex council Cooper said The majority of the Executive Council feel that in order to achieve these goals in a manner that would leave past conflicts and biases behind and allow unbiased opinions to b be heard do hereby declare the current Constitution and the revised Laws By-Laws t. t I In a telephone interview Cooper told the Horizon that he called an unannounced executive council meeting to discuss the constitutionality of the new constitution prior to drafting the memo However However However How How- ever Rick Weeks last years Publications told the Horizon that even though Cooper had discussed the new constitution with council council council coun coun- cil members privately there was never an executive council council council coun coun- cil meeting held to discuss the issue and Cooper acted solely on his own Jon Jordan the new president was asked if he had any knowledge of Coopers Cooper's intentions He replied I knew he had something something something some some- thing brewing in his mind he didn't quite know what to I do but I didn't know what he was doing until I saw the let let- ter II Cheryl the college college college col col- col- col lege senate student senator said II Having read through the old constitution and the new constitution there is nothing stated or implied that gives him the power to take away the students rights like that Curtis Smout the college center director and senate advisor advisor advisor ad ad- visor who has been vocal in his opposition to the constitution constitution con con- said Cameron met with Judd Morgan student services Gordon Wilson director of student activities and I a day before he wrote the letter Our advice advice advice ad ad- vice to him was leave the issue alone He went on to say he was disappointed in inthe inthe inthe the letter because it makes trying to resolve the conflict between the students that much harder Nevertheless Cooper said Smout helped him edit the letter before it was posted The new constitution was drafted by last years Senate and ratified by bya a landslide margin in the May elections elections- opposed by only 15 of the voters Surrounded by controversy sy differences of opinion over constitutional issues created a rift between some executive council members and the senate Jill Greenfield executive VP V.P. and senate president stood fast in her support of the J senate Smout adamantly opposed opposed opposed op op- posed the new constitution These conflicting viewpoints viewpoints' strained relationships and divided student government into two camps Cooper initially vetoed the document and sent it back to the Senate where it was revised but still did not meet his approval The Senate then overrode the veto with a unanimous unanimous unanimous u- u 4 vote after which the document was placed on Tor last years ballot told the Horizon that on the last day of Coopers term of office June 8 the student student stu stu- dent senate held a special session session session ses ses- ses- ses sion to urge Cooper to use his power of line veto under the new constitution to veto anything anything anything any any- thing he could not agree with within in the by They assured him they would not fight him but would meet and try to correct his concerns If he tried to veto the entire bill however they would override his veto At 9 pm p.m. when his term of office expired he called Carmen Carmen Carmen Car Car- men McDonald the pro tern tern- t for the senate to tell her that he was vas not going to do anything anything anything any any- thing and did not mention the letter According to the constitutions constitutions constitutions themselves both old and new since Cooper did nothing the laws by-laws passed by executive default |
